Game Scandal Seen as Unlikely to Hurt McDonald's

CHICAGO — A super-size scandal involving its promotional games was the last thing McDonald’s Corp. needed on top of a beef safety scare in Europe, a weakened economy and vegetarians’ lawsuits over its french fries.

But Wall Street, restaurant industry experts and customers appear to have little beef with the fast-food giant about the conspiracy that denied patrons $13 million in cash and prizes since 1995.

Instead, the marketing company that was implicated in the alleged fixing of the games is taking the hit.